Veteran keeper El Hadary the shootout hero as Egypt reach Afcon final

El Hadary saved a pair of penalties to dash Burkina Faso’s dreams

PENALTIES were needed to determine the first participant in the Africa Cup of Nations final with Egypt triumphing 4-3 over Burkina Faso in the shootout in Libreville to book a spot in the continental showpiece.

The game had ended 1-1 after extra-time with Egypt opening the scoring in the second period with a Mohamed Salah stunner but Burkina Faso wasted no time getting back on terms as Aristide Bance became the first player to breach the Egyptian defence in the tournament.

Burkina Faso had the better of the first-half but Egypt looked threatening whenever they did get an opportunity and Trezeguet went close with a curling effort that went just wide.

At the other end Bance took a touch on his chest and then his head before executing an overhead kick that flew over the crossbar.

With the half winding down Kahraba’s effort from distance bounced akwardly and almost caught out Koffi but he saved well before Razack worked good space on the edge of the area but fired it straight at El-Hadary.

In the second period Bertrand Traore blasted goalwards from a free-kick but El-Hadary got hands behind it as Burkina Faso began displaying plenty of attacking intent.

When was eventually broken it was very much against the run of play although the quality of the build up from the Egyptians was well worth a goal. 

Kahraba cushioned the ball brilliantly into the path of Salah who curled a magnificent first-time effort past a despairing Koffi to give his side the lead.

It was a lead that did not last all that long as the Burkinabe struck back with a goal that was as equally well constructed as their opposition and resulted in Bance taking the ball neatly on his chest before firing home on the half-volley.

Burkina Faso continued their dominance after restoring parity and the very dangerous Nakoulma tried to catch out the Pharaohs stopper with a shot from a tight angle that needed to be tipped around the post. 

The veteran stopper was called into action once again in the dying seconds of regulation time as Diawara stuck out a foot to try and control a pass from deep and it looped up and was heading goalwards before El-Hadary tipper over.

During extra-time Burkina Faso continued to dominate and Nakoulma wasted a glorious chance as he blasted over from close range.

Alain Traore had a chance to be the hero when his side were awarded a free-kick with only minutes remaining but he crashed his effort into the wall and the game went to penalties.

Egypt emerged 4-3 winners in the shootout as El-Hadary saved Burkina Faso’s final two penalties to deny a team that were far more deserving of a spot in the final on the balance of play. Kickoff.com